Beginner Gardening: Rose problem, 1 by plantfreak78

plantfreak78 wrote:
I was just being defensive. I don't pay for the subscription so I can't access the Rose Forum. But with 19 roses of my own (I somehow miscounted on my first post) and working at a nursery where we grow hundreds each spring, I figure I've learned a thing or two about roses.

My latest rose nemesis has been rose rosette virus. It looks fairly innocuous at first, just like the rich red new growth many roses have. Then you start to notice that those red stems are oddly thick yet flexible and extremely thorny. Every source I've consulted says you can't cure it but I tried like heck anyway. A year and a half later I'm losing ground and so my poor 'Mardi Gras' will have to be replaced next spring. :( Oh well, I tried.